Share The Love

Share the Love is a special feature project that highlights District residents who are actively making their own lives better through Rec & Park activities, parks and events. Each resident shares his/her Rec & Park experience and what it means to them. The idea is to illuminate different types of recreational offerings we have available to inspire you, connect you with others, learn something new and stay healthy and active. We want you to find your own WOW! Rec & Park experiences!

Jordan Fletcher

Meet Jordan Fletcher. Jordan, a sophomore at College Park High School, is one bright, impressive and very busy teenager. In between high school leadership team, cheer team, track team and homework, squeezing in time for an interview was a bit of a sacrifice, especially since sharing her Rec & Park story was all that stood between her and hanging with her friends later that evening. It was a bit of an honor. Jordan grew up taking advantage of so many Rec & Park activities; I think it’s fair to say she is an official “Rec & Park” fan. Jordan spent many days playing in our parks, swimming in our pools and participating in our recreation programs ever since she was a very little girl.

Teen Xtreme camp was one of her favorite programs. She said that compared to other local camps, Xtreme took teens on better field trips beyond city limits. These WOW! experiences and opportunities to explore new places further abroad somehow made her feel more independent and more mature--a huge plus for any teen. Since 6th grade, Jordan also participated in our Teen After School Program (ASP), walking over to the Teen Center from Sequoia every day with her friends. She said the teen ASP was fun and a great place to make new friends from other schools. Jordan also thought the teen ASP staff was pretty cool. She said they would actually interact with you, related to you and weren’t too old. Quite an endorsement! This summer Jordan hopes to join the Teen Center staff as a camp counselor. She is sure to add some more “cool” to the program and would serve as a great role model to the young tween Xtreme campers. With her experience and vibrant personality, I have a feeling she is going to nail the interviews.

Thank you for sharing the love, Jordan.

Hudson & Kendall Beard

Meet Kendall and Hudson Beard. These two youngsters have loved the water since the day they were born. “They are like two little fish,” said their mom, Amy. Hudson (9 years) and Kendall (8 years) dove into their love of swimming with private swim lessons when they were toddlers. They then joined Rec & Park’s recreational swim team, the Dolfins at the ripe old age of 5 and 4 years old and have been swimming with the team ever since. These two Dolfin fans couldn’t say enough good things about the program.

Hudson likes the challenge of improving his swim strokes; the breaststroke is his favorite. He also loves the swim drills, participating in the meets (“obviously,” he said) and playing games with his buddies on the team. His younger sister, Kendall, was the biggest Dolfin cheerleader of all. She gushed with great enthusiasm about all the things she loved about the program--it was quite contagious. Besides the actual swimming itself (her favorite stroke is the butterfly), Kendall loves the meets because she gets to hang out with all her friends, watch the other races and cheer on her teammates. Both Kendall and her brother love the Dolfin swim coaches too. “They’re awesome!” both kids said and shared who were their favorites (basically, all of them).

Amy (Mom) agreed. The coaches are extremely encouraging and positive, focused on teaching the children the importance of teamwork and reaching his/her own unique best potential. She added that Dolfins was an ideal opportunity for kids to try out the sport of swimming without extreme pressure. “Dolfins is also a fantastic experience for the whole family and is a great way for not only the kids to socialize but the parents as well,” said Amy. “A GREAT community!” Kendall piped in. Hudson stated simply, “If you want to have fun, join the Dolfins!” These two little fish “obviously” found their favorite pond, the Dolfin Swim Team.

Thank you for sharing the love, Hudson, Kendall and Mom, Amy!

Meagan McFadden

Meet Meagan McFadden. Meagan is a very special person in our community whose delightful quick smile, good humor and genuine sweetness endear her to everyone she meets. For the past 11 years, Meagan has faithfully attended Inclusive Recreation Dances for adults with developmental disabilities hosted each month by Pleasant Hill Rec & Park, the City of Walnut Creek or the City of Concord. She loves the opportunity to dress up, meet with her friends, listen to hip music and kick up her cute kitten heels on the dance floor. In fact, Meagan is usually the one to start the Conga line!

These Inclusion Recreation Dances give Meagan and so many other adults, the chance to play, have fun and celebrate life. According to Meagan, birthday celebrations at the dances are a big hit and she looksforward to celebrating her big day in May. These specialized recreation activities also give Meagan and her friends the freedom to just be themselves with acceptance and easy inclusion. The impact on Meagan: joy. For more information on specialized recreation, contact Preston Jones at (925) 256-3531.

Thank you for sharing the love, Meagan.

Don Turner

Meet Don Turner. For the past 20 years, Don has dined with his friends at the CC Café, the Nutrition Program at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center. After losing his wife of 55 years, Don felt isolated in his home and was tired of his own company (and cooking). One day he decided to give the CC Café a try and has come back almost every day since. It’s not the food that keeps him coming back. It’s the people. He treasures the countless friendships he has made throughout the years with fellow Café patrons--people from all different backgrounds and parts of the world. He enjoys hearing their stories, learning from their life experiences and sharing a few of his own.

For Don, the CC Café and the Senior Center has made a tremendous difference in his life. The sense of belonging and community he feels while spending time in the Café and in the Senior Center is a gift that lifts his spirits and keeps him laughing every day. In November, Don celebrated his 100th birthday with 90 people, many of them friends from the Café. Don invites those isolated seniors, especially men, to join him for lunch. His welcoming demeanor and infectious good humor won’t disappoint.

Thank you for sharing the love, Don.

Camille Allen

Meet local resident and Rec & Park supporter, Camille Allen. Camille, mom-extraordinaire, has twins who attend Rec & Park’s School Year Preschool. Why is she such a big fan of our program? Because, as a former preschool teacher for Hillsborough Recreation, she has the chops to know a good thing when she sees it. She recognizes and appreciates the warm, loving, nurturing environment our preschool teachers create for her children every day.

She is also a big proponent of the preschool’s fundamental principle “learn through play.” And she likes that the preschool offers a top-quality program at such an affordable price. Camille and her young family look forward to participating in more kid-friendly activities and events in the years to come.

Thank you for sharing the love, Camille.

Sandi Badley

Meet long-time Rec & Park devotee, Sandi Badley. Sandi, an amazing cookie baker, is a die-hard water aerobics participant who has been attending water aerobic classes three days a week for the past 19 years! What initially prompted Sandi to try the class? After she retired, she was looking for a low-impact fitness option that would be gentle on her joints. Rec & Park water aerobics was a perfect fit. What’s amazing is that Sandi never formally learned to swim but still braves 3.5 feet of water each week to participate in her water aerobics class. Talk about devotion! Why does she keep coming back to Rec & Park? Because of the great instructors, like Bryce Halliday, and the connection she’s forged with her fellow water aerobic classmates over the years. She enjoys the sense of community and friendships that have resulted from attending class.

When she was working full-time, Sandi wished she and her family would’ve participated in more Rec & Park programs and taken advantage of all the recreational opportunities available. Hindsight is 20/20. When she is not in the pool, Sandi bakes and experiments with new cookie recipes each week. Lucky for her water aerobic friends, they get to enjoy the sweet results each Friday morning after class. If you ever wanted to try water aerobics, Friday morning just might be the day to give it a go—Sandi’s cookies are THAT good.